A method and apparatus are disclosed for listening to ambient sounds, engage in face-to-face communication, listen to and transmit voice communications, while also protecting the auditory system from hazardous sound pressure levels. Increased gain permits the user to maximize his sound detection ability during “reconnaissance and sentry” activities, thereby increasing the user's ability to detect and localize low level sounds such as, for example, enemy movement or activity. The throughput of the system is linear creating high fidelity of sound until the output level for a particular setting of the final gain reaches the limits established by the power supply. At that point, the output reaches a hard limit. This supply voltage also limits the output to the ear for any instantaneous increase in sound pressure levels. The invention includes barriers to attenuate ambient sounds from entering the ear canal and means for providing sound to the occluded portion of the ear canal. Therefore, hazardous impact noise (e.g., weapons blast, small arms fire, etc.) does not pass through the invention while ambient sounds and conversation are received at a level suitable for the auditory system.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. An apparatus for communication and reconnaissance coupled with protection for the auditory system, comprising: a sound attenuation barrier for each ear; an electronic circuit for each ear, comprising: a microphone for transducing ambient sounds into electronic signals, and having an output; a fixed-gain pre-amplifier, having an input connected to the output of said microphone, having an output; a rheostat having an input connected to the output of said fixed-gain pre-amplifier and having an output; a fixed-gain output amplifier, having an input connection to the output of said rheostat, and having an output; an earphone, having an input connection to the output of said fixed-gain output amplifier; a set of gain control switches coupled to said rheostat for each ear, for increasing or decreasing the level of said electronic signals supplied thereto; a power supply that establishes a hard output limit for the electronic circuit when said electronic signal levels exceed seventy-five percent (75%) of the power supply voltage; an output to a radio communications system; and an input from said radio communications system; such that ambient sound waves are attenuated and sound waves suitable for the auditory system are transmitted to the external auditory canal of the ear unless the sound output of the electronic circuit has been de-activated.
2. The apparatus as in claim 1 , in which the microphone is built into a communications ear plug.
3. An apparatus for communication and reconnaissance coupled with protection for the auditory system, comprising the acts of: a sound attenuation barrier for each ear; an electronic circuit for each ear, comprising: at least one microphone for transducing ambient sounds into electronic signals, having an output; a fixed-gain pre-amplifier, having an input connected to the output of said microphone, and having an output; a rheostat having an input connected to the output of said fixed-gain pre-amplifier and having an output; a fixed-gain output amplifier, having an input connection to the output of said rheostat, and having an output; an earphone, having an input connection to the output of said fixed-gain output amplifier; a set of gain control switches coupled to said rheostat for each ear, for increasing or decreasing the level of said electronic signals supplied thereto; and a power supply that establishes a hard output limit for the electronic circuit when said electronic signal levels exceed seventy-five percent (75%) of the power supply voltage; such that ambient sound waves are attenuated and sound waves suitable for the auditory system are transmitted to the external auditory canal of the ear unless the sound output of the electronic circuit has been de-activated.
4. The apparatus as in claim 3 , in which the microphone is built into a communications ear plug.
5. An apparatus for communication and reconnaissance coupled with protection for the auditory system, comprising: a sound attenuation barrier for each ear; an electronic circuit for each ear, comprising: a microphone for transducing ambient sounds into electronic signals, having an output; a fixed-gain pre-amplifier, having an input connected to the output of said microphone, and having an output; a rheostat having an input connected to the output of said fixed-gain pre-amplifier and having an output; a fixed-gain output amplifier, having an input connection to the output of said rheostat, and having an output; a set of gain control switches coupled to said rheostat for each ear, for increasing or decreasing the level of said electronic signals supplied thereto; a power supply that establishes a hard output limit for the electronic circuit when said electronic signal levels exceed seventy-five percent (75%) of the power supply voltage; an output to a radio communications system; and an input from said radio communications system; such that ambient sound waves are attenuated and sound waves suitable for the auditory system are transmitted to the external auditory canal of the ear unless the sound output of the electronic circuit has been de-activated.
6. The apparatus as in claim 5 , in which the microphone is built into a communications ear plug.
7. An apparatus for communication and reconnaissance coupled with protection for the auditory system, comprising: a sound attenuation barrier for each ear; an electronic circuit for each ear, comprising: at least one microphone for transducing ambient sounds into electronic signals, having an output; a fixed-gain pre-amplifier, having an input connected to the output of said microphone, and having an output; a rheostat having an input connected to the output of said fixed-gain pre-amplifier and having an output; a fixed-gain output amplifier, having an input connection to the output of said rheostat, and having an output; a set of gain control switches coupled to said rheostat for each ear, for increasing or decreasing the level of said electronic signals supplied thereto; and a power supply that establishes a hard output limit for the electronic circuit when said electronic signal levels exceed seventy-five percent (75%) of the power supply voltage; such that ambient sound waves are attenuated and sound waves suitable for the auditory system are transmitted to the external auditory canal of the ear unless the sound output of the electronic circuit has been de-activated.
8. The apparatus as in claim 7 , in which the microphone is built into a communications ear plug.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
July 24, 2003
April 1, 2008
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